Just when your mailbox is clear of attacks and your television is free of fuzzy and unflattering black-and-white images of career politicians, the political pros have already started manufacturing grist for the elections two years from now.

Comptroller Susan Combs, who would just love to be the state’s next lieutenant governor, just moved a top aide, David White, from her state office to her campaign.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson just hired Chris Elam, a political operative, away from the Republican Party of Texas to run his campaign — an announcement made under the letterhead “Patterson for Lieutenant Governor.”

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Comments (6)

Susan Combs, and the rest of the Austin GOP contingent are just a bunch of frauds. The TX Lege, at her direction, changed the Special Events tax rebate law to gift $25million each year for 10 years to the COTA folks who just put on the F1 race in Elroy. These tax $$$ are going directly to the billionaire Troll that controls F1 to pay his sanctioning fees. Combs and Perry were feted there by handing out the trophies on the winners podium. Our tax dollars for their indulgences.

November 23, 2012 @ 5:15 p.m.

jpt51

I wonder what Bob Bullock would say about Susan Combs' performance? My guedo s is he'd advise her to do her job right before thinking of higher up offices. Susan is sadly mistaken if she thinks voters have forgotten her lousy projections, leaked secured Social Security numbers and suck up to Red McCombs.

November 24, 2012 @ 10:51 a.m.

Rudy Gonzales

Texas' Susan Combs would like to think of herself as an Ann Richards. Never in her wildest wet dreams. Her close attachment to the TEA-Republican fringe movement and their double-down fiasco nationally will drag her and other extremist down as well. Jerry Patterson looking to seek out the Lieutenant Colonel position will have to get past Todd Staples. Then there's G.P. Bush wanting to toast his family name for some office somewhere, he hasn't made up his mind yet. And then there's 'Ol David Dewhurst who took a shellacking from the TEA party fringe. And Rick Perry hung his future on Dewhurst's improbable run for senator from the retiring K.B. Hutchinson. Dewhurst took a severe drubbing from the TEA party fringe and lost that office to the TEA party fire brand, Ted Cruz. Randy Weber's ascention to Washington opens the door for David Simpson to freak out the Texas Democratic thinker's. And lastly, but not lastly, there is Rick Perry, the Texas Streaking Turkey who flammed out over "Oopsville" as he crashed and burned on the national scene, bringing all kinds of ridicule and rage to Texas. And Greg Abbott wanting to run for governor and may have the inside track following Perry positioning and siding himself with Dewhurst. David Simpson's credentials place him squarely against any governmental enlargement, while the feds will come in and install the PPACA's mandated Health Insurance Exchanges over his disagreement. Simpson's close association with the John Birch Society of Texas marks him as one to be wary of.The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a constitutional republic and personal freedom. Ultra-conservatives and radical extremes gestated into fringe movements like the TEA party and the Libertarian party. Fringe ultra radical extremes with almost the same goals of limited government, but forcing women to undergo medical invasive procedures because of their close association to Evangelical groups. Dan Patrick, another radical extreme voices a too close association with the radical extreme fringes dead-set on taking down the federal government at any expense. Dan Patrick and David Simpson, both would like to challenge public school funding and voucher-ing an already voucher-ed federal Medicaid program. In summation, the Democratic party will have a state-wide war on their hands to control the money-hungry, power-mongering hoard of entrenched TEA-Evangelical John Bircher's holding local and state control. Hold onto your money - The mid-term elections are a-coming!

November 25, 2012 @ 1:39 a.m.

Richard Viktorin

As the person who performed the program review of the Major Events Trust Fund and the incentive Comptroller Combs' approved for Formula One racing, I have serious concerns about her serving in her current job much less her aspirations to higher office.

It strongly appears Comptroller Combs inflated the estimate and tax calculation used to deliver $25MM per year to Formula One. Our review was detailed and in depth and found fundamental defect in her work including bizarre inflation of the economic activity created and misapplication of her own tax law.

I have seen enough of Ms. Combs which raises serious red flags.

Jerry Patterson would be my choice for Lt. Governor.

November 25, 2012 @ 11:42 a.m.

gypsy314 ne

That is nice and dandy but after seeing how a hacker can use a polling machine and flip the winner to loser who in the hell will waste time voting? Besides presidential elections the union swing states decide our leaders why vote? I say you folks should work on removing the electoral college scam system. Anyone care why less then 100 million people vote with more then 300 million people no wonder so many do not vote they know union swing states decide our leaders. Get rid of it electoral college scam. Also put on the paper ballots things like voter Nation wide voter ID law and gay crap and let the nation decide once and for all. We have already did the illegal alien amnesty crap before and should not have to revisit it again. We support legal immigration NOT illegal immigration respect our laws all of them do not come here and try and change our laws to suit you if you change stay in your country and change your laws. And do not come here and dump your children for us to support and and educate.